Arrest will put his Derby credentials to the test under Frankie Dettori in Wednesday’s Boodles Chester Vase, with connections unsure if the tight track will suit the colt.
The John and Thady Gosden-trained son of Frankel takes on four rivals in the extended mile-and-a-half Group Three contest, with the race considered “Plan C” after Sandown’s Classic Trial was abandoned.
He opened his account at the second attempt in a mile maiden at the Esher track and, having subsequently won at Ffos Las, was beaten a head by Dubai Mile in the Group One Criterium de Saint-Cloud.
💥 Magnifique lutte à l'arrivée du Critérium de Saint-Cloud !
🏆 C'est finalement 𝗗𝘂𝗯𝗮𝗶 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗲 (D. Muscutt / C. & M. Johnston) qui enlève ce Critérium de Saint-Cloud (Gr. 1⃣). Il offre ainsi un premier Groupe 1⃣ à son jockey Daniel Muscutt🥈 Arrest🥉 Adelaide River pic.twitter.com/a9EeLLti7S
Barry Mahon, European racing manager for the Juddmonte operation, explained why the race is a third option.
“Chester is probably not his ideal track, but we were meant to go to Sandown and unfortunately it was abandoned with the rain,” he said.
“The Vase was Plan C as originally we were going to the Dee Stakes (on Thursday), (but) the forecast is giving plenty of rain coming in on the Wednesday afternoon and night, so we said we’d go for the fresh ground on Wednesday.
“He is ready to run and we are hopeful he will run a nice race if he can handle the turns and undulations of Chester.
“Arrest is in good form. I saw him on Saturday and physically he’s done well from two to three. He was a big frame last year and he is definitely a stronger horse this year.
“John and Thady said the other morning that the experience of Chester would do him good. If we ended up going to Epsom, he will have that under his belt.
“We have seen it in the last few years with Aidan (O’Brien) and Barry Hills before that, they all take them to Chester for the reason that they get that experience, with the crowd on top of them.
“We had two quiet days at Sandown and then at Ffos Las – not too many people and not too much happening.
“The travel to France has done him good. He has enough miles under his belt and hopefully he’ll be able to handle it and the form with Dubai Mile looks good. He ran a good race in the Guineas when you look at his finishing position (fifth).”
There has been no more successful combination in the Chester Vase than jockey Ryan Moore and trainer Aidan O’Brien, who have won the race eight and 10 times respectively.
The partnership, successful last year with Changingoftheguard, rely on Adelaide River, runner-up in a pair of Group Threes last season before finishing third in the Saint-Cloud race.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien (right) and Ryan Moore have an unmatched record in the Chester Vase (Brian Lawless/PA)
The son of Australia makes his Classic-season bow with his rider expecting him to progress.
“He probably ran to a similar level form in his three starts after his debut win, ending up with a third in that one-mile-and-two-furlong Group One race at Saint-Cloud at the back-end,” Moore told his Betfair blog.
“Rain wouldn’t be a hindrance to his chances and hopefully he can kick on at three, though he has six lengths to find with Arrest on that French form.”
Hadrianus, who was narrowly defeated by the Gosdens’ Epictetus in the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom, Michael Bell’s Duke Of Oxford, who is unbeaten after two all-weather runs, and the Andrew Balding-trained Galactic Jack complete the line-up.
https://devplatform.ggzssd.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2.71049105-scaled.jpg12802560DaveMhttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngDaveM2023-05-09 14:13:012023-05-09 14:13:01Arrest aiming to state Classic case at Chester
Exciting prospect Modesty looks set to miss the Betfred Derby after connections delayed his return to action following a setback.
Owned in partnership by Aquis Farm and Manton Park, the Dubawi colt showed plenty of dash when taking a mile maiden on good to soft ground at York in October.
A Dante and Derby entry, co-trainers Martyn and Freddie Meade have decided Modesty – who is a general 50-1 shot for the Derby – will not head to York or Epsom. Instead, he will make a belated three-year-old debut at Newmarket on Friday week.
Freddie (left) and Martyn Meade (right) have ruled out a Derby bid (Mike Egerton/PA)
“It has been frustrating. He has just been caught up in a series of pollen allergens we have been having recently,” said Freddie Meade.
“We have been really pleased with the way he has developed, though. He was still really green when he won at York, so the plan with him is to go to a novice at Newmarket, over a mile on May 19.”
Out of Group Three-winning mare I Am Beautiful, whose sire was multiple Group One winner Rip Van Winkle, Modesty is bred to be top-class.
And after scoring by three lengths on his debut, Meade feels the speed he showed on the Knavesmire means he will be better suited to trips short of a mile and a half, this season at least.
“We are looking at him as a mile or a mile-and-a-quarter horse this year, and so we will start him in that novice and see whether there is anything at Ascot that would suit him and go from there, really,” he said.
“I think we have ruled out the Derby. I think he’s got quite a lot of speed and I think we’d rush him to get to the Derby.
“The speed he showed at York, hopefully, with that pedigree, if he can be a good miler, then hopefully he’d make a good stallion.”
The Manton handlers have given him an entry in the St James’s Palace Stakes over a mile at Royal Ascot on June 20.
Meade added: “We’ve put him in that and those are the sort of races we’ll be looking at for him.
“He won on good to soft and he’s a very sound horse, and will seemingly handle anything. He’s one we are really excited about.”
https://devplatform.ggzssd.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/1b852693-90a3-4a7a-92ea-675f84301ff3.jpg5121024DaveMhttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngDaveM2023-05-09 12:03:542023-05-09 12:03:54Modesty set for low-key return at Newmarket
Piz Badile will return to the Curragh for the Tattersalls Gold Cup following his comeback third in the Mooresbridge Stakes.
The Donnacha O’Brien-trained colt was a regular in the big races last term, with his early-season victory in the Ballysax Stakes setting up a tilt at both the Derby and Irish equivalent.
Although out of luck on the undulations of Epsom, he gave imperious winner Westover most to think about when a silver medallist in the Irish Derby at the Curragh.
Piz Badile (left) finished third in the Curragh’s Mooresbridge Stakes (Damien Eagers/PA)
He again showed his liking for the Kildare venue on his return and the son of Ulysses will keep to a similar distance for his next outing which will once again be in hot company on May 28.
O Brien said: “I was happy with the run in the Mooresbridge. It was a mess of a race and turned into a three-furlong sprint, so it was a little unsatisfactory in that we didn’t learn an awful lot about where we will be going with him trip wise and things like that.
“But he came out of it well and he’s in good form and all being well he will go back to the Curragh for the Tattersalls Gold Cup.
Gavin Ryan and trainer Donnacha O’Brien with Piz Badile (Niall Carson/PA)
“He was second in the Derby there and ran well there the last day, but he’s a horse that will handle any track.”
O’Brien’s sprinter Wodao is also in line to appear in familiar territory with Chantilly’s Prix Texanita on May 19 highlighted as his next port of call.
The speedy son of Showcasing was a runner-up to Tenebrism at Cork on his reappearance before filling the same spot behind Marshman in the Prix Sigy when running at the French track last month, and O’Brien believes he will need to go one better this time around to book his ticket to Royal Ascot.
“He’s in good form and the plan is to go to France again, back to Chantilly for a six furlong Group Three on May 19,” he said.
“He’s in good form and is a very solid horse.
“The Commonwealth Cup would be his main aim, but he would have to come through France well and would probably have to win there to warrant going to Ascot.”
https://devplatform.ggzssd.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2.66173559-scaled.jpg12802560DaveMhttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngDaveM2023-05-08 17:14:162023-05-08 17:14:16Tattersalls Gold Cup the target for Piz Badile
Tom Clover will bid to land a Group race with Rogue Millennium this summer, providing there is some ease in the ground.
The daughter of Dubawi stayed on well under Jack Mitchell to finish third to India in the Group Three Prix Allez France at ParisLongchamp at the end of last month, having opened her four-year-old season with a runner-up effort to Foxes Tales in the Listed Magnolia Stakes at Kempton
Last season’s Lingfield Oaks Trial heroine may now be aimed at York’s Group Two Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies’ Stakes on Thursday week, according to her Newmarket handler.
Clover said: “She is a lovely filly. She has done well physically from three to four and it is nice she has got two more nice bits of black type next to her name this year already.
ON THE BOB! 🍎
Rogue Millennium pips Mystic Wells to win the @sbk Oaks Trial Fillies' Stakes 🥇
“I think she just relished that slightly easier ground at Longchamp. We had a very dry summer last year and it was very difficult to find suitable ground for her.
“But she has come out of it well and I suppose the last couple of years in the Middleton there have been five, six or seven runners.
“The race is an early closer, but we will have to have a look. I don’t know whether we will go there. There is also the possibility of a Group Two at Saint-Cloud.
“I think she appreciates some cut underfoot and we are a little dependent there. She is in good form and please God she can bag a Group race this year, which would be amazing. She is a lovely horse to have around.”
Clover will have plenty of juvenile talent within his ranks this season, although he has high hopes for three-year-olds Rogue Lightning and Rogue Spirit.
The former won a six-furlong Newmarket novice on debut last June and opened this term with a fair third in a five-and-a-half-furlong Listed contest at Chantilly in March, while Rogue Spirit won twice last season in a busy campaign.
“We are in a slightly rebuilding year. We have some lovely two-year-olds coming through and over half the horses are two-year-olds,” explained Clover. “A few horses ended up moving on last year, which is part and parcel of our game, sadly.
“Rogue Lightning looks a nice prospect. He ran a nice race at Chantilly in a Listed race to be third, when they went very hard and he didn’t quite get home.
“And Rogue Spirit’s form with Cold Case, who won at Ascot on Wednesday, looks very strong. Likewise, the form with Al Dasim, whom he beat at Haydock in September, looks solid, as that one did well in Dubai over the winter.”
He added: “We have a few maidens still to run. Rogue Sea, another three-year-old, won quite nicely a couple of weeks ago at Yarmouth on debut.
“Rogue Lion has quite a nice pedigree and ran quite a nice race on debut when fourth at Nottingham.
“Hopefully he is one to pick up nice races through the summer and hopefully will make up into a nice four-year-old as well. He’s going nicely and he’s a bonny horse – I like him.”
https://devplatform.ggzssd.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2.66761743-scaled.jpg12802560DaveMhttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngDaveM2023-05-08 16:07:162023-05-08 16:07:16Ground key to Rogue Millennium’s summer plans
Waipiro is a possible for the Lingfield Derby Trial after his Newmarket bid was scuppered on the way to the start.
The Ed Walker-trained Australia colt, who is a half-brother to Hong Kong hero Waikuku, was set to be an intriguing runner at Headquarters after a taking seasonal debut over course and distance late last month.
The Listed Newmarket Stakes was an intended stepping stone to the Betfred Derby – but Waipiro was unable to compete as rival runner Forca Timao kicked out on the way to the start and struck the arm of jockey Tom Marquand.
Marquand sustained a wound that required stitches and he was forced to step down, causing the withdrawal of Waipiro.
Absolutely gutted to be ruled out of this weekend’s Guineas meeting after being kicked in the arm while cantering down today, thankfully my X-rays have come back clear and I’m now stitched back together after a fairly messy looking wound! Thankyou for all the kind messages🙏🏼💪🏼 pic.twitter.com/scXqfsmnzY
Marquand is healing having escaped any broken bones and Walker reports the horse to be none the worse as the blow did not reach him.
Lingfield will now be an alterative outing, though his trainer is conscious of ground conditions and will monitor the going throughout the week.
“He’s absolutely fine, unfortunately for Tom he took the blow,” he said.
Waipiro wins on his second start in style at Newmarket Rowley Mile under Tom Marquand. Congratulations to his owner Mr P K Siu🏆 #EdWalkerRacingpic.twitter.com/0YLfBdsKJW
“It’s obviously a real pain for us because Lingfield looks like it’s going to be on soft ground now and that (Newmarket) was the right spot for him.
“It’s frustrating, but he’s well and he’s being trained for Lingfield at the moment.
“I’d run him on good to soft but I wouldn’t run him on soft, so it’ll be dependent on which way things go this week.”
William Buick with Military Order at Newbury (PA)
Waipiro is one of 14 contenders for the near 12-furlong contest, with Charlie Appleby’s Military Order the headline act following his effortless return in a Newbury novice event last month.
He is a general 6-1 shot for Epsom and could be joined by Listed-winning stablemate Noble Dynasty, although he holds an alternative entry in Thursday’s Dee Stakes at Chester.
Gooloogong, a 33-1 chance for the premier Classic, and Bertinelli could represent Aidan O’Brien.
Newmarket Stakes second Circle Of Fire could make a swift return, while Laafi, Artistic Star and Ndaawi also feature.
Bluestocking looked a nice filly for the future when taking Division One of the Byerley Stud EBF Novice Stakes at Salisbury. The Ralph Beckett-trained daughter of Camelot scored by a length and a quarter under Rob Hornby. A spring Classic trail awaits @PAracingpic.twitter.com/oBghuH0lZl
Ralph Beckett’s Bluestocking made a splash on her only juvenile start and is generally available at 14-1 for Epsom ahead of her possible return in the Oaks Trial Fillies’ Stakes.
A Juddmonte-owned daughter of Camelot out of Group One winner Emulous, Bluestocking beat the colts in style on her debut in a Salisbury novice heat in September.
Karl Burke’s Fillies’ Mile third Bright Diamond is among the 14 entries along with Sunset Point and Eternal Hope for the Appleby team and O’Brien’s pair of Be Happy and Lambada.
Agartha leads the way in the Chartwell Fillies’ Stakes (Niall Carson/PA)
Joseph O’Brien has a strong potential team for the Group Three Chartwell Fillies’ Stakes with Agartha, American Kestrel and Honey Girl mounting a three-strong challenge.
Previous Group-race winners Sacred and Sandrine also feature, for William Haggas and Andrew Balding respectively.
White Moonlight, Just Beautiful, Secret Angel and Juliet Sierra are other names to note.
https://devplatform.ggzssd.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2.71827248-1-scaled.jpg12802560DaveMhttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngDaveM2023-05-08 15:37:572023-05-08 15:37:57Waipiro could try again to book Derby ticket at Lingfield
Fourth in the Guineas, first in the Derby is the well-worn adage.
But while the Qipco 2000 Guineas has often been among the best trials for the Epsom Classic, Galeron, this year’s Newmarket fourth, is not likely to make the line-up, according to trainer Charlie Hills.
Having won the Goffs Million at the Curragh on his final start last season, Galeron finished a close-up third to Dear My Friend in a Newcastle all-weather Listed contest last month on his seasonal debut.
Despite that, the son of Camacho was sent off at 150-1 for Guineas glory.
Yet Hills had argued the bookmakers had overlooked him and his pre-race confidence proved spot-on as Galeron stayed on nicely in soft ground under Kieran Shoemark to finish five lengths behind Chaldean.
However, he would need to be supplemented for Epsom, so any thoughts of lining up in the mile-and-a-half colts’ Classic have been shelved for the time being.
Hills said: “It was a fabulous result. He did really well and I’m delighted with him, really.
“He just got a little bit further back than what we’d hoped – he got squashed coming out of the stalls. It was a bit rough at the start, but he came through them really well.
“Kieran said he didn’t really seem to be handling the ground too well, so you have to mark him up a bit on that.
“I don’t think he will get a Derby trip, but we certainly have to have a look at the Irish Guineas and keep a close eye on that. We’ll see how he is at the end of the week and then make a plan.
“He seems to have come out of the race really well.”
It was a great weekend for the Lambourn yard, with Mutasaabeq landing the Group Two bet365 Mile and Saxon King taking a decent handicap over the same Newmarket Rowley Mile.
And at Goodwood on Friday, Cicero’s Gift underlined his potential as a smart prospect when powering home to take another eight-furlong contest, a three-year-old conditions race, maintaining his unbeaten record.
The Muhaarar colt had previously won a novice on debut at Newbury in October and followed up on the all-weather at Wolverhampton in March.
Cicero’s Gift (right) May have booked his Royal Ascot ticket (Tim Goode/PA)
He stormed to a five-and-a-half-length success, trouncing five previous winners and although he holds a Dante entry, Cicero’s Gift is more likely to head straight to Royal Ascot.
Hills said: “It was exciting. I was really pleased with the way he lengthened away there.
“He is in the Dante, although my gut feeling is that he will go straight to the St James’s Palace Stakes. The gut feeling is to wait, but we have to see how he is. I think Ascot will really suit him.
“He is owned by Rosehill Racing, a syndicate that we set up. We have five horses who were bought relatively cheaply, about the 30-grand mark, and he looks an exciting horse for the future.”
https://devplatform.ggzssd.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2.68986192-scaled.jpg12802560DaveMhttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngDaveM2023-05-08 14:50:352023-05-08 14:50:35Hills eyeing Irish Guineas for Newmarket fourth Galeron
Jack Channon will not rule out the possibility of running Caernarfon in the Betfred Oaks after she stayed on well to finish fourth in the Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on Sunday.
The daughter of Cityscape had won twice last term, signing off with success in the Listed Montrose Fillies’ Stakes over course and distance.
Having the first run of her three-year-old season in the mile Classic, Connor Beasley’s mount made up plenty of ground and was never nearer than at the finish in very testing soft ground.
Though she had no chance with winner Mawj and runner-up Tahiyra, who put over seven lengths between themselves and third-placed Matilda Picotte, Channon was more than satisfied.
“We were absolutely chuffed with her,” said the West Ilsley handler, who has this season taken over the training licence from his father, Mick.
“We knew once we had that rain, not so much that she needs soft ground, we just suspected all spring that a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half might be her optimum – that’s why we stuck her in the Oaks and the French Oaks – we thought the rain might slow it up (for others).
“It looked to be a very good race and they took six lengths out of them, three (furlongs) down, and she’s done extremely well to stay on all the way to the line.
“She has picked up two Group One-winning two-year-old fillies in the final furlong and I think it was strong form, and I was chuffed with her run.”
Caernarfon’s sire won over nine furlongs, although he was only tried once over 10, while her unraced dam is by Group One-winning sprinter Royal Applause.
However, while not bred to star over 12 furlongs, she has shown all the right signs that she could be a force, should she line up in the Epsom fillies’ Classic.
Channon added: “She could well be an Oaks filly. It is a big step up from a mile to a mile and a half, but I’ve always had the opinion that the best Oaks trial and the best Derby trial are in the Guineas’.
“She is an extremely well-balanced filly and she settles so well, which would give her every chance to stay if we wanted to try that.
“We have got her in over a mile and a quarter in France and we’ve also got her in over a mile and a half (at Epsom).
“We will probably look at one of those options close to the time, but we will see how she trains this week and see how she comes out of it first of all.”
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Australian sprinter The Astrologist is all set to run at York next week.
The Leon and Troy Corstens-trained six-year-old has been based at Marco Botti’s yard since arriving in the UK following his second place in the Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai, with Royal Ascot his ultimate destination.
He is due to run in the 1895 Duke of York Clipper Stakes first and was partnered by Ryan Moore when he worked over five furlongs of the Rowley Mile on Friday.
“The whole point of coming up here was to stimulate him a little bit more than a gallop up the Limeklins,” said assistant trainer Dom Sutton.
Danyah springs a big surprise in the Grade 1 Al Quoz Sprint under Dane O'Neill.
“Ryan Moore said he was a little unbalanced on the undulations, but that is something he is not used to back home. York is a flat, galloping track which will suit him well.
“He has had the flight from Australia to Dubai and from Dubai to here and he seems to have taken it well. He is a fit horse and he will probably have another piece like that and that will do him.
“He has really acclimatised well. He is a pretty relaxed horse day to day and he has a good head and shoulders on him in that sense.”
He went on: “Coming to Britain was on the radar, but he had to run well in Dubai to warrant coming over here. Being as we were halfway, it made sense to come here as opposed to going back to Australia then coming over from there.
“The market never really respects him. Whatever Group One he has run in, he has always been an outsider. When he was second in the Newmarket he was a 60-1 outsider. Whatever price he gets sent off won’t worry us.
“He is not a typical Australian sprinter as he is one that makes his own luck. If he is somewhere near his best, he should go well.
“We are hoping to get Ryan Moore on board, but we have to see what Aidan O’Brien does as he still has three in the race. If we do get Ryan to ride him, it will be fantastic.”
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Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Yibir is on course to return to action in the Al Rayyan Stakes at Newbury on May 20.
Trained by Charlie Appleby, Yibir enjoyed a fruitful campaign in 2021, culminating with successes in the Great Voltigeur, the Jockey Club Invitational at Belmont and the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar.
He showed smart form again at four, finishing third in the Man o’War before winning the Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket, but he has been off the track since that win in July.
Yibir helped put stablemate Flying Honours through his paces in a gallop at Newmarket on Friday.
Yibir storms home to win the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf
Appleby said: “I’m delighted with Yibir as he has been off the track since winning the Princess of Wales’s Stakes on the July course last year.
“The plan with him is to head to the Aston Park Stakes (Al Rayyan) at Newbury. He had a setback after Newmarket and has been off since.
“Admittedly Yibir was in the Jockey Club Stakes (on Friday) but I felt he was maybe a gallop or two short to go for that, so that is why I decided to take him for a gallop instead.”
Appleby also has a Hong Kong entry for Yibir, as he is one of four for the Newmarket handler together with Global Storm, Rebel’s Romance – who emulated Yibir in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf – and Siskany in the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup, the final Group One of the Hong Kong season on May 28 at Sha Tin.
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The Aga Khan may have been narrowly denied Qipco 1000 Guineas success at Newmarket, but there was at least some compensation at Leopardstown, where the owner enjoyed a double.
Whereas the vanquished Rowley Mile runner-up Tahiyra has already proven herself as a top-class operator, trainer Dermot Weld and the owner could have another on their hands in Azazat, who built on an encouraging third at the Dublin track last month to win the Captain Dara Fitzpatrick Memorial Maiden in impressive fashion.
The Camelot filly, sent off the 4-6 favourite, relished the move up to a mile-and-a-half and holds some exciting options moving forward, with entries in the Betfred Oaks and Irish equivalent at the Curragh. Ascot’s Ribblesdale Stakes is also a possibility, with her sights set to be raised on her next start.
“Colin was very happy with her,” said Kris Weld, assistant trainer to his father. “We took a gamble on two fronts, firstly taking on the colts and secondly, the rain overnight turning the ground close to heavy wasn’t ideal for her.
“They are getting through it and the timing of the race suited well, so we let her take her chance.
“She’s entered in the Ribblesdale and the Oaks. We’ll take it step by step and maybe a race like the Naas Oaks Trial might fit in her programme. She’s a nice filly going forward.”
Also in the colours of the renowned owner, Johnny Murtagh’s Sharlouk (6-5 favourite) broke his duck at the third time of asking in the opening John R Fitzpatrick Agricultural Contractor Maiden.
Sharlouk ridden by Ben Coen wins The John R Fitzpatrick Agricultural Contractor Maiden at Leopardstown (Brian Lawless/PA)
“He’s improving and probably didn’t stay the distance the last time. He travels like a very good horse in behind. He’s still learning,” said Murtagh.
“He’s a big, gross horse so I think he’ll improve with a bit of racing, but he has an engine.
“I’ve no firm plans but I’ll speak with Pat (Downes, racing manager) and the team.
“He cruises very well and, being by Zoustar, you would like to thing he would handle better ground as well.”
However, the owner missed out on a treble when Aidan O’Brien’s Warm Heart (13-8 favourite) claimed the other maiden on the card – the 10-furlong Clayton Hotel Leopardstown Fillies Maiden – by a length-and-a- quarter.
Warm Heart ridden by jockey Wayne Lordan (right) wins the Clayton Hotel Leopardstown Fillies Maiden (Brian Lawless/PA)
She was cut from 25-1 from 33-1 by Betfair for the Oaks and connections hope she could become a stakes performer in time.
“She’s a lovely filly and had two nice runs in maidens,” said Chris Armstrong, representing O’Brien.
“Coming here we thought she’d be very competitive stepping up in trip and Wayne (Lordan) gave her a lovely ride. It was a proper-run maiden from start to finish.
“She is a filly with plenty of class and one to look forward to over that trip. She could get a bit further, but there are plenty of lovely races for her at a mile and a quarter.
“Hopefully she is a stakes filly in the making.”
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Arrest aiming to state Classic case at Chester
/in Horseracing News/by DaveMArrest will put his Derby credentials to the test under Frankie Dettori in Wednesday’s Boodles Chester Vase, with connections unsure if the tight track will suit the colt.
The John and Thady Gosden-trained son of Frankel takes on four rivals in the extended mile-and-a-half Group Three contest, with the race considered “Plan C” after Sandown’s Classic Trial was abandoned.
He opened his account at the second attempt in a mile maiden at the Esher track and, having subsequently won at Ffos Las, was beaten a head by Dubai Mile in the Group One Criterium de Saint-Cloud.
Barry Mahon, European racing manager for the Juddmonte operation, explained why the race is a third option.
“Chester is probably not his ideal track, but we were meant to go to Sandown and unfortunately it was abandoned with the rain,” he said.
“The Vase was Plan C as originally we were going to the Dee Stakes (on Thursday), (but) the forecast is giving plenty of rain coming in on the Wednesday afternoon and night, so we said we’d go for the fresh ground on Wednesday.
“He is ready to run and we are hopeful he will run a nice race if he can handle the turns and undulations of Chester.
“Arrest is in good form. I saw him on Saturday and physically he’s done well from two to three. He was a big frame last year and he is definitely a stronger horse this year.
“John and Thady said the other morning that the experience of Chester would do him good. If we ended up going to Epsom, he will have that under his belt.
“We have seen it in the last few years with Aidan (O’Brien) and Barry Hills before that, they all take them to Chester for the reason that they get that experience, with the crowd on top of them.
“We had two quiet days at Sandown and then at Ffos Las – not too many people and not too much happening.
“The travel to France has done him good. He has enough miles under his belt and hopefully he’ll be able to handle it and the form with Dubai Mile looks good. He ran a good race in the Guineas when you look at his finishing position (fifth).”
There has been no more successful combination in the Chester Vase than jockey Ryan Moore and trainer Aidan O’Brien, who have won the race eight and 10 times respectively.
The partnership, successful last year with Changingoftheguard, rely on Adelaide River, runner-up in a pair of Group Threes last season before finishing third in the Saint-Cloud race.
The son of Australia makes his Classic-season bow with his rider expecting him to progress.
“He probably ran to a similar level form in his three starts after his debut win, ending up with a third in that one-mile-and-two-furlong Group One race at Saint-Cloud at the back-end,” Moore told his Betfair blog.
“Rain wouldn’t be a hindrance to his chances and hopefully he can kick on at three, though he has six lengths to find with Arrest on that French form.”
Hadrianus, who was narrowly defeated by the Gosdens’ Epictetus in the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom, Michael Bell’s Duke Of Oxford, who is unbeaten after two all-weather runs, and the Andrew Balding-trained Galactic Jack complete the line-up.
Modesty set for low-key return at Newmarket
/in Horseracing News/by DaveMExciting prospect Modesty looks set to miss the Betfred Derby after connections delayed his return to action following a setback.
Owned in partnership by Aquis Farm and Manton Park, the Dubawi colt showed plenty of dash when taking a mile maiden on good to soft ground at York in October.
A Dante and Derby entry, co-trainers Martyn and Freddie Meade have decided Modesty – who is a general 50-1 shot for the Derby – will not head to York or Epsom. Instead, he will make a belated three-year-old debut at Newmarket on Friday week.
“It has been frustrating. He has just been caught up in a series of pollen allergens we have been having recently,” said Freddie Meade.
“We have been really pleased with the way he has developed, though. He was still really green when he won at York, so the plan with him is to go to a novice at Newmarket, over a mile on May 19.”
Out of Group Three-winning mare I Am Beautiful, whose sire was multiple Group One winner Rip Van Winkle, Modesty is bred to be top-class.
And after scoring by three lengths on his debut, Meade feels the speed he showed on the Knavesmire means he will be better suited to trips short of a mile and a half, this season at least.
“We are looking at him as a mile or a mile-and-a-quarter horse this year, and so we will start him in that novice and see whether there is anything at Ascot that would suit him and go from there, really,” he said.
“I think we have ruled out the Derby. I think he’s got quite a lot of speed and I think we’d rush him to get to the Derby.
“The speed he showed at York, hopefully, with that pedigree, if he can be a good miler, then hopefully he’d make a good stallion.”
The Manton handlers have given him an entry in the St James’s Palace Stakes over a mile at Royal Ascot on June 20.
Meade added: “We’ve put him in that and those are the sort of races we’ll be looking at for him.
“He won on good to soft and he’s a very sound horse, and will seemingly handle anything. He’s one we are really excited about.”
Tattersalls Gold Cup the target for Piz Badile
/in Horseracing News/by DaveMPiz Badile will return to the Curragh for the Tattersalls Gold Cup following his comeback third in the Mooresbridge Stakes.
The Donnacha O’Brien-trained colt was a regular in the big races last term, with his early-season victory in the Ballysax Stakes setting up a tilt at both the Derby and Irish equivalent.
Although out of luck on the undulations of Epsom, he gave imperious winner Westover most to think about when a silver medallist in the Irish Derby at the Curragh.
He again showed his liking for the Kildare venue on his return and the son of Ulysses will keep to a similar distance for his next outing which will once again be in hot company on May 28.
O Brien said: “I was happy with the run in the Mooresbridge. It was a mess of a race and turned into a three-furlong sprint, so it was a little unsatisfactory in that we didn’t learn an awful lot about where we will be going with him trip wise and things like that.
“But he came out of it well and he’s in good form and all being well he will go back to the Curragh for the Tattersalls Gold Cup.
“He was second in the Derby there and ran well there the last day, but he’s a horse that will handle any track.”
O’Brien’s sprinter Wodao is also in line to appear in familiar territory with Chantilly’s Prix Texanita on May 19 highlighted as his next port of call.
The speedy son of Showcasing was a runner-up to Tenebrism at Cork on his reappearance before filling the same spot behind Marshman in the Prix Sigy when running at the French track last month, and O’Brien believes he will need to go one better this time around to book his ticket to Royal Ascot.
“He’s in good form and the plan is to go to France again, back to Chantilly for a six furlong Group Three on May 19,” he said.
“He’s in good form and is a very solid horse.
“The Commonwealth Cup would be his main aim, but he would have to come through France well and would probably have to win there to warrant going to Ascot.”
Ground key to Rogue Millennium’s summer plans
/in Horseracing News/by DaveMTom Clover will bid to land a Group race with Rogue Millennium this summer, providing there is some ease in the ground.
The daughter of Dubawi stayed on well under Jack Mitchell to finish third to India in the Group Three Prix Allez France at ParisLongchamp at the end of last month, having opened her four-year-old season with a runner-up effort to Foxes Tales in the Listed Magnolia Stakes at Kempton
Last season’s Lingfield Oaks Trial heroine may now be aimed at York’s Group Two Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies’ Stakes on Thursday week, according to her Newmarket handler.
Clover said: “She is a lovely filly. She has done well physically from three to four and it is nice she has got two more nice bits of black type next to her name this year already.
“I think she just relished that slightly easier ground at Longchamp. We had a very dry summer last year and it was very difficult to find suitable ground for her.
“But she has come out of it well and I suppose the last couple of years in the Middleton there have been five, six or seven runners.
“The race is an early closer, but we will have to have a look. I don’t know whether we will go there. There is also the possibility of a Group Two at Saint-Cloud.
“I think she appreciates some cut underfoot and we are a little dependent there. She is in good form and please God she can bag a Group race this year, which would be amazing. She is a lovely horse to have around.”
Clover will have plenty of juvenile talent within his ranks this season, although he has high hopes for three-year-olds Rogue Lightning and Rogue Spirit.
The former won a six-furlong Newmarket novice on debut last June and opened this term with a fair third in a five-and-a-half-furlong Listed contest at Chantilly in March, while Rogue Spirit won twice last season in a busy campaign.
“We are in a slightly rebuilding year. We have some lovely two-year-olds coming through and over half the horses are two-year-olds,” explained Clover. “A few horses ended up moving on last year, which is part and parcel of our game, sadly.
“Rogue Lightning looks a nice prospect. He ran a nice race at Chantilly in a Listed race to be third, when they went very hard and he didn’t quite get home.
“And Rogue Spirit’s form with Cold Case, who won at Ascot on Wednesday, looks very strong. Likewise, the form with Al Dasim, whom he beat at Haydock in September, looks solid, as that one did well in Dubai over the winter.”
He added: “We have a few maidens still to run. Rogue Sea, another three-year-old, won quite nicely a couple of weeks ago at Yarmouth on debut.
“Rogue Lion has quite a nice pedigree and ran quite a nice race on debut when fourth at Nottingham.
“Hopefully he is one to pick up nice races through the summer and hopefully will make up into a nice four-year-old as well. He’s going nicely and he’s a bonny horse – I like him.”
Waipiro could try again to book Derby ticket at Lingfield
/in Horseracing News/by DaveMWaipiro is a possible for the Lingfield Derby Trial after his Newmarket bid was scuppered on the way to the start.
The Ed Walker-trained Australia colt, who is a half-brother to Hong Kong hero Waikuku, was set to be an intriguing runner at Headquarters after a taking seasonal debut over course and distance late last month.
The Listed Newmarket Stakes was an intended stepping stone to the Betfred Derby – but Waipiro was unable to compete as rival runner Forca Timao kicked out on the way to the start and struck the arm of jockey Tom Marquand.
Marquand sustained a wound that required stitches and he was forced to step down, causing the withdrawal of Waipiro.
Marquand is healing having escaped any broken bones and Walker reports the horse to be none the worse as the blow did not reach him.
Lingfield will now be an alterative outing, though his trainer is conscious of ground conditions and will monitor the going throughout the week.
“He’s absolutely fine, unfortunately for Tom he took the blow,” he said.
“It’s obviously a real pain for us because Lingfield looks like it’s going to be on soft ground now and that (Newmarket) was the right spot for him.
“It’s frustrating, but he’s well and he’s being trained for Lingfield at the moment.
“I’d run him on good to soft but I wouldn’t run him on soft, so it’ll be dependent on which way things go this week.”
Waipiro is one of 14 contenders for the near 12-furlong contest, with Charlie Appleby’s Military Order the headline act following his effortless return in a Newbury novice event last month.
He is a general 6-1 shot for Epsom and could be joined by Listed-winning stablemate Noble Dynasty, although he holds an alternative entry in Thursday’s Dee Stakes at Chester.
Gooloogong, a 33-1 chance for the premier Classic, and Bertinelli could represent Aidan O’Brien.
Newmarket Stakes second Circle Of Fire could make a swift return, while Laafi, Artistic Star and Ndaawi also feature.
Ralph Beckett’s Bluestocking made a splash on her only juvenile start and is generally available at 14-1 for Epsom ahead of her possible return in the Oaks Trial Fillies’ Stakes.
A Juddmonte-owned daughter of Camelot out of Group One winner Emulous, Bluestocking beat the colts in style on her debut in a Salisbury novice heat in September.
Karl Burke’s Fillies’ Mile third Bright Diamond is among the 14 entries along with Sunset Point and Eternal Hope for the Appleby team and O’Brien’s pair of Be Happy and Lambada.
Joseph O’Brien has a strong potential team for the Group Three Chartwell Fillies’ Stakes with Agartha, American Kestrel and Honey Girl mounting a three-strong challenge.
Previous Group-race winners Sacred and Sandrine also feature, for William Haggas and Andrew Balding respectively.
White Moonlight, Just Beautiful, Secret Angel and Juliet Sierra are other names to note.
Hills eyeing Irish Guineas for Newmarket fourth Galeron
/in Horseracing News/by DaveMFourth in the Guineas, first in the Derby is the well-worn adage.
But while the Qipco 2000 Guineas has often been among the best trials for the Epsom Classic, Galeron, this year’s Newmarket fourth, is not likely to make the line-up, according to trainer Charlie Hills.
Having won the Goffs Million at the Curragh on his final start last season, Galeron finished a close-up third to Dear My Friend in a Newcastle all-weather Listed contest last month on his seasonal debut.
Despite that, the son of Camacho was sent off at 150-1 for Guineas glory.
Yet Hills had argued the bookmakers had overlooked him and his pre-race confidence proved spot-on as Galeron stayed on nicely in soft ground under Kieran Shoemark to finish five lengths behind Chaldean.
However, he would need to be supplemented for Epsom, so any thoughts of lining up in the mile-and-a-half colts’ Classic have been shelved for the time being.
Hills said: “It was a fabulous result. He did really well and I’m delighted with him, really.
“He just got a little bit further back than what we’d hoped – he got squashed coming out of the stalls. It was a bit rough at the start, but he came through them really well.
“Kieran said he didn’t really seem to be handling the ground too well, so you have to mark him up a bit on that.
“I don’t think he will get a Derby trip, but we certainly have to have a look at the Irish Guineas and keep a close eye on that. We’ll see how he is at the end of the week and then make a plan.
“He seems to have come out of the race really well.”
It was a great weekend for the Lambourn yard, with Mutasaabeq landing the Group Two bet365 Mile and Saxon King taking a decent handicap over the same Newmarket Rowley Mile.
And at Goodwood on Friday, Cicero’s Gift underlined his potential as a smart prospect when powering home to take another eight-furlong contest, a three-year-old conditions race, maintaining his unbeaten record.
The Muhaarar colt had previously won a novice on debut at Newbury in October and followed up on the all-weather at Wolverhampton in March.
He stormed to a five-and-a-half-length success, trouncing five previous winners and although he holds a Dante entry, Cicero’s Gift is more likely to head straight to Royal Ascot.
Hills said: “It was exciting. I was really pleased with the way he lengthened away there.
“He is in the Dante, although my gut feeling is that he will go straight to the St James’s Palace Stakes. The gut feeling is to wait, but we have to see how he is. I think Ascot will really suit him.
“He is owned by Rosehill Racing, a syndicate that we set up. We have five horses who were bought relatively cheaply, about the 30-grand mark, and he looks an exciting horse for the future.”
Oaks option open for Caernarfon after fine Guineas effort
/in Horseracing News/by DaveMJack Channon will not rule out the possibility of running Caernarfon in the Betfred Oaks after she stayed on well to finish fourth in the Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on Sunday.
The daughter of Cityscape had won twice last term, signing off with success in the Listed Montrose Fillies’ Stakes over course and distance.
Having the first run of her three-year-old season in the mile Classic, Connor Beasley’s mount made up plenty of ground and was never nearer than at the finish in very testing soft ground.
Though she had no chance with winner Mawj and runner-up Tahiyra, who put over seven lengths between themselves and third-placed Matilda Picotte, Channon was more than satisfied.
“We were absolutely chuffed with her,” said the West Ilsley handler, who has this season taken over the training licence from his father, Mick.
“We knew once we had that rain, not so much that she needs soft ground, we just suspected all spring that a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half might be her optimum – that’s why we stuck her in the Oaks and the French Oaks – we thought the rain might slow it up (for others).
“It looked to be a very good race and they took six lengths out of them, three (furlongs) down, and she’s done extremely well to stay on all the way to the line.
“She has picked up two Group One-winning two-year-old fillies in the final furlong and I think it was strong form, and I was chuffed with her run.”
Caernarfon’s sire won over nine furlongs, although he was only tried once over 10, while her unraced dam is by Group One-winning sprinter Royal Applause.
However, while not bred to star over 12 furlongs, she has shown all the right signs that she could be a force, should she line up in the Epsom fillies’ Classic.
Channon added: “She could well be an Oaks filly. It is a big step up from a mile to a mile and a half, but I’ve always had the opinion that the best Oaks trial and the best Derby trial are in the Guineas’.
“She is an extremely well-balanced filly and she settles so well, which would give her every chance to stay if we wanted to try that.
“We have got her in over a mile and a quarter in France and we’ve also got her in over a mile and a half (at Epsom).
“We will probably look at one of those options close to the time, but we will see how she trains this week and see how she comes out of it first of all.”
The Astrologist primed for British bow at York
/in Horseracing News/by DaveMAustralian sprinter The Astrologist is all set to run at York next week.
The Leon and Troy Corstens-trained six-year-old has been based at Marco Botti’s yard since arriving in the UK following his second place in the Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai, with Royal Ascot his ultimate destination.
He is due to run in the 1895 Duke of York Clipper Stakes first and was partnered by Ryan Moore when he worked over five furlongs of the Rowley Mile on Friday.
“The whole point of coming up here was to stimulate him a little bit more than a gallop up the Limeklins,” said assistant trainer Dom Sutton.
“Ryan Moore said he was a little unbalanced on the undulations, but that is something he is not used to back home. York is a flat, galloping track which will suit him well.
“He has had the flight from Australia to Dubai and from Dubai to here and he seems to have taken it well. He is a fit horse and he will probably have another piece like that and that will do him.
“He has really acclimatised well. He is a pretty relaxed horse day to day and he has a good head and shoulders on him in that sense.”
He went on: “Coming to Britain was on the radar, but he had to run well in Dubai to warrant coming over here. Being as we were halfway, it made sense to come here as opposed to going back to Australia then coming over from there.
“The market never really respects him. Whatever Group One he has run in, he has always been an outsider. When he was second in the Newmarket he was a 60-1 outsider. Whatever price he gets sent off won’t worry us.
“He is not a typical Australian sprinter as he is one that makes his own luck. If he is somewhere near his best, he should go well.
“We are hoping to get Ryan Moore on board, but we have to see what Aidan O’Brien does as he still has three in the race. If we do get Ryan to ride him, it will be fantastic.”
Globetrotting Yibir on course for Newbury comeback
/in Horseracing News/by DaveMBreeders’ Cup Turf winner Yibir is on course to return to action in the Al Rayyan Stakes at Newbury on May 20.
Trained by Charlie Appleby, Yibir enjoyed a fruitful campaign in 2021, culminating with successes in the Great Voltigeur, the Jockey Club Invitational at Belmont and the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar.
He showed smart form again at four, finishing third in the Man o’War before winning the Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket, but he has been off the track since that win in July.
Yibir helped put stablemate Flying Honours through his paces in a gallop at Newmarket on Friday.
Appleby said: “I’m delighted with Yibir as he has been off the track since winning the Princess of Wales’s Stakes on the July course last year.
“The plan with him is to head to the Aston Park Stakes (Al Rayyan) at Newbury. He had a setback after Newmarket and has been off since.
“Admittedly Yibir was in the Jockey Club Stakes (on Friday) but I felt he was maybe a gallop or two short to go for that, so that is why I decided to take him for a gallop instead.”
Appleby also has a Hong Kong entry for Yibir, as he is one of four for the Newmarket handler together with Global Storm, Rebel’s Romance – who emulated Yibir in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf – and Siskany in the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup, the final Group One of the Hong Kong season on May 28 at Sha Tin.
Weld and Aga Khan earn Leopardstown compensation
/in Horseracing News/by DaveMThe Aga Khan may have been narrowly denied Qipco 1000 Guineas success at Newmarket, but there was at least some compensation at Leopardstown, where the owner enjoyed a double.
Whereas the vanquished Rowley Mile runner-up Tahiyra has already proven herself as a top-class operator, trainer Dermot Weld and the owner could have another on their hands in Azazat, who built on an encouraging third at the Dublin track last month to win the Captain Dara Fitzpatrick Memorial Maiden in impressive fashion.
The Camelot filly, sent off the 4-6 favourite, relished the move up to a mile-and-a-half and holds some exciting options moving forward, with entries in the Betfred Oaks and Irish equivalent at the Curragh. Ascot’s Ribblesdale Stakes is also a possibility, with her sights set to be raised on her next start.
“Colin was very happy with her,” said Kris Weld, assistant trainer to his father. “We took a gamble on two fronts, firstly taking on the colts and secondly, the rain overnight turning the ground close to heavy wasn’t ideal for her.
“They are getting through it and the timing of the race suited well, so we let her take her chance.
“She’s entered in the Ribblesdale and the Oaks. We’ll take it step by step and maybe a race like the Naas Oaks Trial might fit in her programme. She’s a nice filly going forward.”
Also in the colours of the renowned owner, Johnny Murtagh’s Sharlouk (6-5 favourite) broke his duck at the third time of asking in the opening John R Fitzpatrick Agricultural Contractor Maiden.
“He’s improving and probably didn’t stay the distance the last time. He travels like a very good horse in behind. He’s still learning,” said Murtagh.
“He’s a big, gross horse so I think he’ll improve with a bit of racing, but he has an engine.
“I’ve no firm plans but I’ll speak with Pat (Downes, racing manager) and the team.
“He cruises very well and, being by Zoustar, you would like to thing he would handle better ground as well.”
However, the owner missed out on a treble when Aidan O’Brien’s Warm Heart (13-8 favourite) claimed the other maiden on the card – the 10-furlong Clayton Hotel Leopardstown Fillies Maiden – by a length-and-a- quarter.
She was cut from 25-1 from 33-1 by Betfair for the Oaks and connections hope she could become a stakes performer in time.
“She’s a lovely filly and had two nice runs in maidens,” said Chris Armstrong, representing O’Brien.
“Coming here we thought she’d be very competitive stepping up in trip and Wayne (Lordan) gave her a lovely ride. It was a proper-run maiden from start to finish.
“She is a filly with plenty of class and one to look forward to over that trip. She could get a bit further, but there are plenty of lovely races for her at a mile and a quarter.
“Hopefully she is a stakes filly in the making.”